Minister of Transport Jappie Mhango has said the commissioning of Mpatamanga Bailey Bridge in Neno is a key step in supporting government’s plans to boost electricity generation.
Speaking after commissioning the bridge, Mhango said the country has prioritised the construction of another dam that will generate more electricity for the national grid.
“As a country, we are generating far below demand and so the government has decided to construct another dam that will generate over 300 megawatts of electricity into the grid,” Mhango said.
He said the bridge will facilitate the planned construction of the dam, which is aimed at addressing persistent blackouts in the country.
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Mhango also said the infrastructure also restores a vital transport link that was washed away by Cyclone Idai in 2019, reconnecting people of Neno South and Blantyre- Chileka who previously faced challenges moving goods and services between the two districts.
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Director of Maintenance at the Roads Authority (RA), Engineer Flora Hauya, said RA also rehabilitated the road from the bridge to the M6 junction.
“We engaged the Malawi Defence Force as contractors, as they have the expertise in building bailey bridges,” Hauya said.
She also commended the Mpatamanga Hydro Project for injecting about K3 billion towards the project.
Commanding Officer for the Engineers Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Sikelo, said the works were completed within two months, ahead of the three-month deadline.
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Member of Parliament for Neno South Mutani Tambala said her constituents would now find it easier to travel to Blantyre, saying they previously used the Mwanza Road but now have a shorter route through Chileka.
A bailey bridge is a type of temporary or semi-permanent bridge made from prefabricated steel panels.
The parts are designed so they can be quickly transported, assembled and installed on site, often without heavy machinery.
In practice, it is commonly used when a permanent bridge has been damaged or destroyed, for example after flooding or storms. According to experts, it can also serve as a longer-term solution where a permanent structure has not yet been built.
